OLYMPIA, Wash.– Washington State Employees CU said for the second year in a row it will support the statewide Check Out Washington program, and will increase the number of passes available to allow greater access to parks across the state.
According to WSECU, the popular interagency program put 500 Adventure Packs with special Discover passes in libraries across the state for library card holders to check out for a week at a time. The program uses health disparity data to focus its expansion in regions that could most benefit from free expanded access to recreation opportunities, WSECU said.
‘Exactly What We Hoped’
“It was clear to us the program was doing exactly what we hoped – getting people outside and enjoying our state’s beautiful public lands,” said WSECU Vice President of Public Relations Ann Flannigan. “The program removes access barriers to state lands and the data shows people are taking full advantage of it.”
The packs include materials to help first-time visitors, including a Discover Pass, which provides users free parking, binoculars, and a set of three laminated pocket guides about Washington trees, wildlife and birds.
The packs are available for check out with a library card, increasing access to public lands for families who might otherwise not have the tools or resources to visit.
“The program’s expansion puts an emphasis on communities that would benefit the most from greater access to outdoor recreation, as indicated by health disparity data,” the $5.2-billion WSECU said.
Program Proves Popular
The credit union said the program’s continued growing popularity saw Adventure Packs circulated to 3,728 library patrons in the summer of 2022, with some library wait times as long as four months to check out a pack.
This year, Check Out Washington will provide 500 Adventure Packs with Discover passes – up from 400 in 2022 – to local libraries around the state, the credit union added.
Check Out Washington is a collaborative program supported by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Parks Foundation, Washington State Library and WSECU.
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